Global Diversity Export Initiative Events
Featured Events
The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, organizes trade programs and events to support minority businesses interested in exporting.
Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia 2024
May 13-15, 2024 | Istanbul, Türkiye
Explore European Markets with the U.S. Commercial Service!
Join us in Istanbul for the largest U.S. government-led trade mission and business development forum. The Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia forum will offer one-on-one market strategy counseling meetings with U.S. commercial diplomats from over 25 countries in the region, informative conference programming, and plenty of networking. Participants may also add matchmaking meetings with pre-screened buyers, agents, distributors, or joint-venture partners in Türkiye (May 15); Italy and/or Romania, (May 9-10); or Denmark, Poland, and/or Kazakhstan (May 16-17).
Learn More & Apply
South Africa Personal Care Opportunities
This initiative aims to help U.S. cosmetics and personal care companies build capacity and access market opportunities in South Africa.
Opportunities will be open to all U.S. businesses in the sectors and are designed particularly to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the African diaspora and underserved communities, including African American, woman, and minority owned businesses.
South African Personal Care Product Showcase - March 2024: Put your U.S. personal care product directly in front of vetted buyers and distributors on the continent with the South Africa Personal Care Product Showcase.
Virtual Matchmaking - April 2024: Follow your showcase experience with virtual matchmaking.
The U.S. Commercial Service’s Building Bridges to Global Markets brings in-person exporting expertise to your community. Addressing issues most common to diverse businesses seeking international sales expansion, this series of events will introduce reliable contacts, accurate information, and ready-to-use resources that will place you firmly on the road to exporting success.
Addressing issues most common to diverse businesses seeking international sales expansion, this series of events will introduce reliable contacts, accurate information, and ready-to-use resources. In 2024, we’re teaming up with some of our GDEI Strategic Partners to bring the Building Bridges to Global Markets program to the following annual conferences:
- American Indian Reservation Summit | Las Vegas, NV | March 11-14
- U.S. Hispanic Chamber Legislative Summit | Washington, DC | April 22-24
- USPAACC CelebrAsian Business Conference | Atlanta, GA | May 29-31
- National Black Business Conference | Atlanta, GA | August 21-24
2024 U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit
The 2024 Legislative Summit welcomes the vast exploration of these countless innovative opportunities through public policy, procurement, advocacy, and access to necessary technical assistance to build back better. On behalf of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and our Board of Directors we invite you to join us as we connect America’s Hispanic Business leaders with elected officials from both sides of the aisle in a bipartisan effort to influence legislative change.
National Veteran Matchmaking Conference
The annual signature conference will host the largest gathering of Certified Service Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses and will be held live in Michigan, with a location TBD.
The National Veteran Matchmaking Conference and Vets Night Out will provide insights through a diverse and dynamic group of keynote speakers and panelists to help navigate the procurement process and provide updates on the industry’s current state.
The Annual Conference will include Vets Night Out, where corporations and Veteran business owners network on a more informal basis and will feature a special Guest Speaker.
Colours Spring Business Summit 2024
The Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce Spring LGBT Business Summit will focus on the business landscape and contracting opportunities as well as ways to scale businesses and the benefits of LGBT Certification. The event will feature local and high-profile speakers and influencers in the business, city and non-profit arenas to present cutting-edge and thought-provoking topics focused on supplier diversity, use of social media, small business marketing and professional services contracting.
Join the U.S. Commercial Service at the Summit for Building Bridges to Global Markets
Access to trade finance and capital is one of the challenges most often cited by U.S. small businesses considering going global. Join the Building Bridges to Global Markets: Trade Finance & Access to Capital panel during which speakers from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and Flagstar Bank will highlight available resources to support your business as you diversify your sales through exporting. Additionally, panelists will host an information table and hold individual consultations with summit attendees throughout the day.
Date: April 18, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Location: Pistons Performance Center, 6201 2nd Ave., Detroit, MI
U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce’s CelebrASIAN Business + Procurement Conference 2024
At the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce’s CelebrASIAN Business + Procurement Conference 2024, you’ll learn from industry leaders and innovators, make new connections, gain customers, and grow your business and professional network.
Join the U.S. Commercial Service at CelebrASIAN 2024 for Building Bridges to Global Markets
Date: May 31, 2024 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Location: The Hotel at Avalon, Alpharetta, Georgia
Learn more about exporting and access to capital in an informational session during the conference. Meet our local exporting experts get reliable contacts, accurate information, and ready-to-use resources that will place you firmly on the road to exporting success. Open to all
Register for CelebrASIAN 2024
2024 Building Bridges: Women in Global Trade
2024 Building Bridges: Women in Global Trade will connect U.S. woman business leaders with insights, information, and resources designed to build confidence and business acumen in the global trade environment.
Join the U.S. Commercial Service and the NEW Women’s Business Center for Building Bridges: Women in Global Trade!
Date: June 13, 2024 | 10:00am to 1:30pm
Location: NEW Women’s Business Center, 7500 Alabama Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91303
You’ll hear high-level insights and best practices from the NEW Women’s Business Center and International Trade Administration officials and guest speakers on the state of global trade for women-led businesses worldwide. During the meetings and information-packed sessions, federal trade organizations, local trade resource organizations, and successful exporters will share guidance on how to export, how to finance, and how to find tools you need to succeed internationally.
Register Now
More information coming soon.
More information coming soon.
GDEI Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), is organizing a Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia from December 8-9, 2024. Connect with opportunities in the Middle East by participating in the planned trade mission to Saudi Arabia. This mission will connect diverse businesses across best prospect industries with opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
Who should attend?
This mission is focused on expanding export opportunities to U.S. small and medium-sized businesses that are founded, led, operated, or owned by women from industries with growing potential in Saudi Arabia. The mission is horizontal, with various sectors represented, based on best prospects for U.S. companies in Saudi Arabia.
Best prospect sectors include:
- Education/Vocational Training
- Healthcare
- Information and Communication Technology (e.g., e-commerce, HealthTech, financial technology and AI)
- Infrastructure (e.g., project management and architecture)
- Aerospace, Defense, and Security
- Consumer Goods (e.g., beauty and wellness)
- Energy Transition and Renewable Energy
- Transportation and Logistics
- Travel, Tourism and Entertainment
- Waste Management and Water
Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready U.S. companies, including small businesses, trade associations and other exporting organizations that meet the established criteria for participation in the mission. The trade mission is open to U.S. firms already doing business in Saudi Arabia who are seeking to expand their market share and to those U.S. firms new to these markets.
GDEI Events: More Ways to Engage
By signing up for updates on GDEI Event Updates, you will receive email updates regarding upcoming trade events, webinars, and other educational opportunities and programs for companies interested in expanding internationally.
If you missed one of our key events, you can view selected recordings below.
Locate Additional Events Targeted to Your Needs
See our full event calendar. Attend a local event to connect with experts to learn more about exporting. Find a U.S. or overseas trade event to find potential partners through our matchmaking programs!
Additional Assistance
